Fantasy baseball trade question

[LeonarD26]

I'm first in my league, but need to improve my saves. I have this deal on the table:

I give up Josh Beckett and Gary Sheffield
I receive Mariano Rivera and Jason Varitek

Standings are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OPS W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

My current catcher is Mike Piazza, who is terrible. My closers are Chad Cordero, Tyler Walker and B Lyon

I am currently 2 of 9 in saves. I'm tied for first in saves, era, average in K's and WHIP.

Any opinions? Am I giving up too much?

 

[codeyf]

Don't do it. Mariano isn't the same this year (he's on my squad too).

 

[LeonarD26]

Yeah, being a Yankee fan I saw up close how terrible a time he had earlier in the season. But he usually has a good summer. Varitek has had some injury problem in the past, but he's having a great year....

 

[squeeg22]

Originally posted by: LeonarD26
I'm first in my league, but need to improve my saves. I have this deal on the table:

I give up Josh Beckett and Gary Sheffield
I receive Mariano Rivera and Jason Varitek

Standings are R, HR, RBI, SB, AVG, OPS W, L, SV, K, ERA, WHIP

My current catcher is Mike Piazza, who is terrible. My closers are Chad Cordero, Tyler Walker and B Lyon

I am currently 2 of 9 in saves. I'm tied for first in saves, era, average in K's and WHIP.

Any opinions? Am I giving up too much?

IMO, yes you are giving up too much. Depending on the league (I checked Yahoo), the players are ranked as follows (overall ranking shown):

Beckett - 15
Sheffield - 44

Rivera - 32
Varitek - 144

You'd be giving up a better pitcher for a lesser pitcher. The same goes for hitting. I don't consider the difference in the pitching to be that big of a deal, but the difference in Sheff vs. Varitek is huge. The difference between the 4th ranked catcher and the 10th ranked catcher is generally not that huge. Since Varitek isn't a top tier catcher IMO, you aren't really upgrading at that position. Unless you have a stud OF to replace Sheff, don't even think about this trade.

 

[TheNinja]

Originally posted by: squeeg22

You'd be giving up a better pitcher for a lesser pitcher. The same goes for hitting. I don't consider the difference in the pitching to be that big of a deal, but the difference in Sheff vs. Varitek is huge. The difference between the 4th ranked catcher and the 10th ranked catcher is generally not that huge. Since Varitek isn't a top tier catcher IMO, you aren't really upgrading at that position. Unless you have a stud OF to replace Sheff, don't even think about this trade.

The pitching is a gain for you (depending on who you'd have left for SP). Sure Beckett helps in more categories, but Rivera has the ability to dominate a single category and even help era/whip while he's at it.

The hitting is too much to give up though. Shef is a stud, Varitek is just an OK hitter. Ya, Piazza has done worse than Varitek up to this point, but going forward, do you think Varitek is going to outplay Piazza by quite a bit? Is he going to outplay Piazza enough to make up for Shef's numbers?

I would give up: Becket, 2nd best OF after Shef, Piazza
And try to get: Rivera, Varitek, decent OF